Vermont Stormwater Management Programs for Non-Phase 2 Communities

Transcription

1 Vermont Stormwater Management Programs for Non-Phase 2 Communities NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference May 16, 2012 Portsmouth, New Hampshire Jim Pease, Vermont DEC Dave Braun, Stone Environmental, Inc. Milly Archer, Vermont League of Cities and Towns

2 Overview 1. Infrastructure Mapping (Jim Pease) 2. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (Dave Braun) 3. Regulatory/Planning Assistance (Milly Archer) 2 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

3 Vermont s Stormwater Management Statute, 1264 (b) Year 2000 amendments The secretary's stormwater management program shall include, at a minimum, provisions that: (9) Promote detection and elimination of improper or illegal connections and discharges. (MS4-MM#3) (10) Promote implementation of pollution prevention during the conduct of municipal operations. (MS4-MM#6) (12) Encourage municipal governments to utilize existing regulatory and planning authority to implement improved stormwater management by providing technical assistance, training, research and coordination with respect to stormwater management technology, and by preparing and distributing a model local stormwater management ordinance. (MS4-MM#4-5) (13) Promote public education and participation among citizens and municipalities about cost-effective and innovative measures to reduce stormwater discharges to the waters of the state. (MS4-MM#1-2) 3 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

4 How do we get municipalities to build sustainable stormwater management plans without mandating them? Raise awareness through the basin planning process, planning workshops, local roads programs, other education outreach. Set a good example: VTrans has adopted MS4 MM#4-6 statewide. Complete stormwater drainage asset inventories. Conduct IDDE work which is practical, cost-effective pollution control and can save municipalities money. Encourage water quality zoning for new development / redevelopment which sets a path for future growth. Large projects get state review. Use grants to encourage program building blocks but also require blocks as a prerequisite to future funding 4 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

5 STEP 1: Drainage infrastructure added to base map images from GPS, field work, record drawings and permit plans. 5 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

6 STEP 2: Sub-watershed polygons were drawn around stormwater infrastructure using digitized data, topographic maps, and Digital Elevation Models. 6 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

7 STEP 3: Annual sediment and phosphorus loads were calculated using the SIMPLE method. This enabled the ranking of the sub-watersheds by projected TSS and TP or TN loads showing the potentially most problematic sub-watersheds Watershed Number Projected Sediment Load (lbs) Projected Phosphorus Load (lbs) Water Quality Volume (Acre-Feet) Channel Protection Volume (Acre- Feet) 3 9, , , , , NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

8 STEP 4: The highest priority sub-watersheds were looked at in more detail and potential treatment practices and funding options were suggested for each. Recommendations vary from retrofits to erosion control repair. Watershed Number Action List 3 1/2 Proposed or Existing Stormwater Treatment Practice Upgrade permitted basin to ext. det. micro pool / combine with outfall # 18 Estimated Basin Construction Cost Estimated Other BMP Construction Cost Cost of Sediment Removal per pound Cost of Phosphorus Removal per pound Assistance Program $15,000 $3 $1,529 ANR-CWSRF DEC-ERP, Ext. Det. Wet Pond $186,300 $38 $21,966 ANR-CWSRF 8 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012 DEC-ERP,

9 STEP 5: Potential projects are further developed with interested towns. Funding can come through state or federal grants. Towns must assume maintenance responsibility. 9 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

10 Infrastructure Mapping Status 255 towns/cities in Vermont. Populations from 1 to 39,000 9 Phase 2 MS4 municipalities 71 non-phase 2 towns targeted for mapping. Mapping completed in 33 of 71 towns. Mapping underway in 12 towns. 10 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

11 Illicit Discharges Defined Any discharge to a stormwater drainage system that is not stormwater.with certain acknowledged exceptions (groundwater, water line flushing, fire fighting, etc.) But what a bad word! Connotes drugs and crime. Search for less off-putting synonyms: Illegitimate (child) Inappropriate (behavior) Illegal or Prohibited Suggests an intent to pollute that is nearly always lacking. Blue lights, hefty fines, indefinite detention not far behind. Contaminated Yes, but so is stormwater Contaminated non-stormwater Close but awkward In DEC s cooperative, non-regulatory IDDE program, words matter.. 11 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

12 Why IDDE? Problem: 1. Failing (leaking) infrastructure, 2. plumbing mistakes, and 3. illegal dumping cause sanitary wastewater and other wastes to enter stormwater drainage systems and discharge to surface waters. Contaminant flows are typically small and diluted but they add up to a significant source of water quality degradation. Goal: Improve water quality by identifying and eliminating contaminated, non-stormwater discharges entering stormwater drainage systems and ultimately discharging to (pick a river). Appeal: Identify and fix real problems. 12 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

13 Project Partners and Funding Project name (towns) Partner / Sponsor Barre City Friends of the Winooski River / Supplemental Environmental Project (city fine) Central Vermont (Berlin, Montpelier, Northfield) Missisquoi River Basin (Enosburg Falls, Highgate, Montgomery Center, North Troy, Richford, Swanton) Mid-Winooski River Basin (Waterbury, Richmond, Waitsfield, Moretown) Brattleboro Otter Creek Basin (Middlebury, Vergennes, Brandon, Pittsford, Rutland City and Town) Lamoille River Basin (Hardwick, Morrisville, Hyde Park, Johnson, Jeffersonville, Cambridge, Fairfax, Georgia, Jericho, Underhill, and Wolcott) Participating towns provide in-kind services Friends of the Winooski River / VTANR Section 319 grant VTDEC Ecosystem Restoration Program Friends of the Winooski River / VTDEC Ecosystem Restoration Program VTDEC Ecosystem Restoration Program VTDEC / Lake Champlain Basin Program VTDEC Ecosystem Restoration Program 13 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

14 Methods Dry weather screening using drainage mapping and in-stream reconnaissance: 1. Record physical characteristics 2. At all flowing outfalls and selected catchbasins and manholes: Describe the flow Measure specific conductivity and chlorine, ammonia, and detergents (methylene blue active substances) Place an optical brightener pad (collected and analyzed later) 3. At outfalls where OB or ammonia is detected, collect samples for E. coli and nutrient analysis. Bracket sources of contaminants by sampling adjacent structures. Work with the public works department to identify specific sources, using engineering plans, dye testing, smoke testing and camera inspection. 14 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

15 Optical Brightener Test Fluorescent dyes used in nearly all laundry detergents. Cotton pads are exposed for 4-8 days, then rinsed, dried, and viewed under a UV lamp. Inexpensive and sensitive method to screen for wastewater flows. When positive, best way to trace contaminants. Oil can cause a false positive OB detection (but is also of interest ) 15 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

16 Bracket Sampling Using OB: BR1160 System Example 16 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

17 We believe these methods work well in Vermont, striking an appropriate balance between efficiency, expense, and capability to detect and isolate problems. Departures from EPA guidance: OB monitoring No bacteriological testing in initial dry-weather survey No outfall (illicit discharge potential) prioritization scheme In Vermont, we re looking at everything. 17 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

18 Richford Montpelier Richmond Barre City Middlebury Brattleboro 18 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

19 IDDE Status 9 Phase 2 MS4 municipalities 71 non-phase 2 towns targeted for IDDE. IDDE projects completed in 17 of 71 towns. Projects underway or under contract in 18 towns. 19 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

20 Results Summary About 1000 outfalls assessed, 40-50% flowing when observed. Contaminants indicated in about 8% of systems: Sanitary wastewater or washwater: 42 Tapwater: 20 some big water savings! Petroleum: 15 Industrial discharge: 3 Other: Pet waste, car washing, heated water Grossly contaminated discharges nearly always corrected easier to identify source of discharge and more pressing to fix them. Diluted discharges and partially renovated wastewater much more difficult. Need to convince public works directors there really is a problem they can neither see nor smell. 20 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

21 State vs. Local Stormwater Management Control State of Vermont Stormwater runoff from construction sites that disturb more than 1 acre Discharges from new impervious surfaces of 1 or more acres and expansions >5,000 square feet Subdivisions of 10 lots or more Commercial projects on 10 or more acres Development above 2,500 feet Cities and Towns Everything else!!! Referred to as sub-jurisdictional 21 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

22 Some Vermont Statistics 255 cities and towns 51 have good water quality provisions in zoning (lake, stream and wetland buffers) 30 more have some stormwater provisions for erosion prevention and sediment control and runoff from impervious surfaces in zoning 124 with no water quality provisions in zoning 50 with no zoning 22 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

23 Regulatory and Planning Assistance: Ordinance Adoption 23 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

24 VLCT Model Riparian Buffer Ordinance April NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

25 Streams are NOT static: Lewis Creek, Starksboro, VT 25 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

26 VLCT Model Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Bylaw May NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

27 Excerpt from Model LID Stormwater Management Bylaw The use of LID design approaches is preferred and shall be implemented to the maximum extent practical given the site s soil characteristics, slope, and other relevant factors. To the extent that LID design approaches are not proposed, the applicant shall provide a full justification and demonstrate why the use of LID approaches is not possible before proposing to use conventional structural stormwater management measures that channel stormwater away from the development site. 27 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

28 VLCT Model Shoreland Protection District Bylaw June NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

29 Excerpt from Model Lake Shoreland District Protection Bylaw Shoreland Protection District with 100 foot Shoreland Buffer Resource Zone Nonconforming Structure Mitigation Stormwater Capture and Infiltration 29 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

30 Model Subdivision Standards Incorporating LID Standards coming soon 30 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

31 Zoning vs. Subdivision Zoning Zoning is used to regulate the location, type and density of development through the delineation of zoning districts Subdivision Subdivision controls the way land is divided up to accommodate land uses and supporting infrastructure including stormwater management systems 31 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

32 Model Subdivision Standards Four-Step Design Process Identify environmental resource areas Locate building envelopes Locate and design roads and public infrastructure Draw lot lines 32 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

33 Environmental Resource Area Definition Any natural area that must be documented prior to subdivision development including: floodplains, river corridors, wetlands, streams, lakes, riparian buffers, forested areas and significant natural communities, wildlife habitat and travel corridors, greenways, fields, well-drained soils and natural drainage ways, steep slopes and ridgelines. 33 NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012

34 Questions? Jim Pease or Dave Braun or Milly Archer or NEIWPCC 23 rd Annual Conference / May 16, 2012